It also featured the now-famous "eyebrow" headlight cover that remains a Sportster trademark. Harley-Davidson also offered the XLH, a dressed-up, touring-influenced version that was outsold by its sportier sibling.

Power rose steadily over the years, earning the fleet Sportster the nickname "King of the Drags" -- an unofficial title it would hold until the late 1960s.

Of course, this was at a time when most of its competitors were British 650-cc twins, which spotted considerable displacement to the 883-cc Sportster. And in drag racing, size matters.

Go to the next page to see more 1964 Harley-Davidson XLCH Sportster motorcycle pictures.

The 1984 Harley-Davidson FXRT built upon the success of the FXR. A stiffer frame with Sportster-style forks handled better than any previous Big Twin and rubber engine mounts and a five-speed made for a smoother ride. Read about the Harley FXRT.

The 2002 Harley-Davidson XL-1200C Sportster has not changed much since its 1996 debut. Custom versions of the Sportster arrived as a way of adding big-Harley styling like two-tone paint to the middleweight line. Learn about the XL-1200c Sportster.